USDA data collected in EWG’s 2013 farm subsidy database update — going live tomorrow –shows that Fincher collected a staggering $3.48 million in “our” money from 1999 to 2012. In 2012 alone, the congressman was cut a government check for a $70,000 direct payment. Direct payments are issued automatically, regardless of need, and go predominantly to the largest, most profitable farm operations in the country.

I am literally at a loss for words. Surely Tennessee’s 8th district deserves better than a heartless bastard who has his hand in the till while telling poor children to go begging at the church door. And you call yourself a Christian with that mouth? No. That’s not Christianity. That is the opposite of Christianity. That is being selfish, greedy, and abusive.

I’m sick of these assholes and their phony faith.

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What is it with Tennessee Republicans and hungry children? First we had Williamson County GOP Chair Kevin Kookogey calling the National School Breakfast program a “perverse handout.” Yes, that’s right, making sure hungry kids start the day off right with some nutrition so they can actually learn something in school is perverse.

Rep. Stephen Fincher, R-Tenn., then quoted a verse from the 26th chapter of Matthew, saying the “poor will always be with us” in his defense of cuts to the food stamps program. Fincher said obligations to take care of the poor should be left to churches, not the government.

Right, that worked so well for hundreds of years when the obligation to care for the poor really was left to the churches. Also, way to cherry-pick the Bible, dude.

Republican Congressman Stephen Fincher of Tennessee, who supports cuts to the program, had his own Bible verse from the Book of Thessalonians to quote back to Vargas: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat,” he said.

First of all, the idea that the poor don’t work is astonishingly, dumfoundingly stupid. Here’s a guy crafting policy affecting the poor and he knows absolutely nothing about what it’s like to be poor in America. But second of all, since Fincher brought the work topic up, what does he do for a living? When he’s not sucking on the taxpayer teet as a Congressmonster, of course.

A seventh generation farmer, Fincher is a managing partner in Fincher Farms, a family business that grows cotton, corn, soybeans, and wheat on more than 2,500 acres in western Tennessee. The company has received $8.9 million in farm subsidies over the past decade, mostly from the cotton program, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.[6][7][8] Fincher received a $13,650 grant to help buy grain hauling and storage equipment from the state Department of Agriculture in 2009 as part of the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program.[9]

Oh! So Stephen Fincher thinks it’s perfectly fine for the taxpayers to send him a handout, but when the poor need help putting food on the table, it’s sorry! Jesus says no!

16 responses to “Rep. Fincher Joins TNGOP’s Starving Children Club”

I’m sorta glad that assholes like Fincher don’t live up here where I am. Beating some fucking piece-o-shit like him into a bloody pulp would be fun but then it’s all jail and anal sex and I’m just not up for it. What a scumbag.

“Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…”
As a pagan, I object to Stephen Fincher using his interpretation of his holy text to justify denying food to the children of this state. These children are the future of the society I hope to grow old in, and I want them to be healthy, educated and happy because that will create a better society that I — and I repeat myself–hope to grow old in.
Furthermore, if Mr. Finch believes that, contrary to all of western civilization, the churches will feed the poor, will he not feel a bit put out that the burden of caring for the poor only falls to those who attend church? What if the Baptists only want to feed Baptists? What if the Churches of Christ won’t feed unmarried couples and/or their children? What if Mr. Fincher were to take a flying leap?

You are awesome, sir or ma’am. Thank you for being a person who thinks of things outside themselves and realizes that our society is a better one when people are fed, healthy and educated.

I’ll paraphrase another part of the bible for Fincher–“whatsoever you do to the least of my people, you do unto me”. That’s you, Fincher, telling your Lord and Savior (I assume that’s his belief) to piss off.

SB, I had to go vomit before I could write a response. (And apparently this mis-use of the biblical phrase (“the poor will always be with us…) is not complete. One of our candidates in 2010, here used it in defense of cutting vital services to our poor and homeless. And the rest of that admonishment from Jesus/God says something like…..”and therefore, ye must care always for the poor, the widows and orphans”.

No it doesn’t. What’s stopping the churches? Come on, churches! Feed whomever you want! Hey, we still have that Office of Faith-Based Initiatives to help coordinate. OH WAIT the churches expect to get paid for their service? From the Federal Government?? OH SNAP! (pun intended … and if you don’t know what SNAP stands for, Google it.)

There is a tremendous disconnect with Republicans. They seem to have absolutely NO CLUE how these government programs work. None. It’s as if they were elected to office for some really bizarre reason that has nothing to do with governing.

Well, for what it’s worth, I know a guy who is devoutly Catholic and routinely devotes his time and money for Catholic charities. He complains about taxes because they prevent him from donating MORE to the church.

I know, the Catholic church is notoriously corrupt and their charities are suspect, I’m just saying that it’s hard to argue with him since he DOES in fact devote a lot of his time and money towards charity.

The Catholic Church does a lot of good, too. I won’t begrudge anyone their donations. The thing is, the idea that “if only I didn’t have to pay taxes, I could give MORE to my church” is completely false. Because Jesus said we’re to sell ALL of our possessions and follow him … not parse pieces out here and there, make sure we have our comfortable consumer lifestyle and give a little piece here and there for the needy. And I’m not judging anyone, trust me, I live a VERY comfortable lifestyle. I certainly fall well short of the mark, but I at least recognize that and see the need for government programs.

Jesus had no possessions, he was an itinerant teacher. Who among us will actually do that? I know of few people who have actually taken the Bible literally at its word on that score. Following Jesus is the exact OPPOSITE of capitalism.

Fincher ignores Matthew 25, a version of the last judgment:
[34] Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
[35] for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
[36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
[37] Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
[38] And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?
[39] And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’
[40] And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’
[41] Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
[42] for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
[43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

I guess some responsible Christian conservative in government has to make sure there will be a supply of Deltas and Epsilons*. I mean, why else hobble impoverished children if only to put a ceiling on their ambitions?